Inside a Mong Kok Tattoo Parlor

Located in Mong Kok, Hong Kong – an area in no short supply of tattoo parlors – sits MoFo Tattoo. With drop-down windows and a brightly lit neon sign, MoFo Tattoo stands out amongst the clutter of parlors. The founder, Hong Kong native Karl Hung, and one of the resident tattoo artists, Cash Chan, are lovebirds who also share a mentor-apprentice relationship. The two attended design school together, and after graduation, they bonded over their mutual interest in tattoo culture. Recently, we dropped by and chatted with the couple about the unique look of the shop and the addictive nature of tattoos.

The atmosphere of MoFo Tattoo is different from the feel of a typical tattoo parlor; the space has a nostalgic quality to it and feels more like a vintage toy store than a tattoo shop. Karl says that many customers have preconceptions of a traditional tattoo parlor being a dark and evil place. Some customers are nervous even before they step through the door. So to offset this misconception, he had the idea to put cute objects in the store to alleviate the brooding atmosphere many associate with tattoo parlors. It was only two years ago when Karl began collecting Japanese vinyl toys and antique furniture two years ago. But as his house slowly filled up with his collection, he had the idea to introduce a similar vintage aesthetic to the tattoo shop. “The dragon and phoenix at the entrance came from a restaurant that went out of business,” Karl comments on my visit. “We asked a friend to grab it for us. No one expects a dragon and phoenix in a tattoo parlor. I think it’s quite interesting so I made it happen.” Besides the collection of toys and dolls, the store showcases old Cantonese movie posters and the framed works of other various tattoo artists, all collected by Karl. “When you like another tattoo artist’s work, you’ll want to buy their art.”

For Cash Chan, her first encounter with tattoos was when she was 16-years-old. The interest would snowball into a full-blown fixation. She’s been hooked ever since. Chan gets at least one new tattoo per year and proudly says that over 70% to 80% of her body is covered in tattoos. “I use my skin to collect the works of my favorite tattoo artists,” she says. “Will I cover my entire body in tattoos? It’s only a matter of time.” For Chan, tattoos aren’t sentimental souvenirs; instead, she sees them as a method of self-expression, as unique and timeless accessories.

With her long eyelashes, black eyeliner, and dark red lipstick, Chan might appear intimidating and unapproachable to those that don’t know her. But fitting the Libra archetype, Chan is actually quite sweet and charming. “I love Disney princesses. So when I first started designing tattoos, a lot it was related to princesses,” Chan says. After participating in a tattoo exhibition in England, she was awestruck by the bold use of colors and lines by many of the European artists. “Their works were quite avant-garde, unconfined by any conventional rules.” Returning to Hong Kong, she went a month without creating any new tattoos, but rather spent her time contemplating what type of work she wanted to create. She admits to having felt quite lost and directionless during that time. But inspiration returned one day while she was in the shower. “A colorful image just suddenly came to me. I don’t know what it was, but all I could think about was this image. I knew that’s something I wanted to create right then and there.” When asked about the meaning behind it, she shrugged and said, “When you like something, you like something. There’s no particular reason.”

Every tattoo artist at MoFo is adamant about their aesthetic. Chan mentioned, at times, customers will search for an image online and request that they replicate it. The tattooists will generally flat-out refuse these requests. “We want customers come to us because they like our style,” Chan explains. “Through talking with our clients, we’ll attempt to understand their personality and customize a one-of-a-kind tattoo for them. All customers need to do is show up with an idea, and we’ll take care of everything else.”